Method and apparatus for filling upholstery plaits



June 19, 1934. H. J. coYNE ET A1.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING UPHOLSTERY PLAITS Filed Aug. 14. 1930 Patented June 19, 1934 A Y UNTED STATES METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FILLING UPHOLSTERY PLAITS Harry J. Coyne, Weston, and Francis J. Coyne, Newton Center, Mass., assignors to Sterling Fibre Company, Waltham, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts' Application August 14,

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling plaited upholstery for motor vehicles, furniture and the like.

The object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and efcient method particularly adapted for the simultaneous filling of a series of upholstery plaits at one and the same time.

With this and other objects in view, it is proposed to draw one or more distended plaits over '10 a stationary tube, and either before or after insertion of the tube Within the plait to fill the tube with the advanced end of a length of stuing bat. Subsequent to insertion of the tube and bat within the plait, the advanced end of the y bat is clamped within the plait and the bat Withdrawn therewith from without the tube, the movement of withdrawal severing the bat approximately at the entrance of the tube. Y

Still further features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a partially diagrammatic elevation of an apparatus for carrying out the new method; Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 illustrating the tube and contained bat inserted within the plait; and

Fig. 3 is a detail illustrating a section of the tube and bat advancing devices.

The apparatus shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises essentially a table 10 having a bat advancing member 12 slidable thereover. This member may be connected with a rack 14, which is engaged and driven by a pinion 15. This member is connected to the rack by brackets 16 and 18, and is guided at its forward end by a roll 20. The bat is engaged with the member by a plurality of loosely pivoted fingers 22, each in the form of a U, and depending from a plate 24 connected to the member 12, as indicated more particularly 'in Fig. 3. These fingers are arranged to rock forward freely upon the retracting movement of the member, but are constrained against rearward movement with relation to the member beyond the position shown approximately in Figs. i 1 and 2. In this construction the fingers engage and advance the bat with the member 12 on the advancing movement thereof. Upon the rearward movement, the fingers are permitted to vslide freely over the bat, leaving it in its ad- -vanced position. A new length of bat is con- 1930, serial No; 475,331

veniently delivered to the member by a conveyor belt 23, passing at opposite ends about drive members 26 and 27. This conveyor belt, as indicated in Figs. l and 2, delivers an endless length of bat to the upper portion of the table 10 through an opening 28. i

Mounted in register with'the bat advancing member 12 is a stationary tube 25, rigidly supported at its entrance end by a transverse bar 27. This tube, as indicated particularlyin Figs. 1 and 2, is adapted to enter a distended uphol; stery plait 30, the mouth of which is maintained in open position by oppositely disposed shoes 32 and 34, carried generally by oppositely disposed heads 36 mounted upon a carriage 38. Thev lower shoe 34 is stationary and the upper shoe is movable to distend the mouth of the plait in a manner to be presently described. Each of the shoes cooperates with a spring-pressed clamp 40 and 42, respectively, these clamps serving tol grip the fabric to the shoes and prevent withdrawal therefrom during the insertion of the bat. The clamping operation is conveniently carried out by connecting a link.44 to the upper shoe 32 through a pin 46, and the lower clamping member 42 to a link through a pin 50. The link is operated to simultaneously elevate the shoe 32 and spring-pressed clamp 42 through a manually operated lever 52, pivoted on a head 36 at 54, and having a slotted arm 56 which engages with the link. The clamps are normally held in the position to which they are moved by a ratchet 58 and pawl 60, which can be manually released through a handle 62.

The clamping and distending members, as previously described, are mounted upon the carriage 38, which is movable toward and from the tube 25 through the provision of wheels 64, riding upon longitudinal rails 66 to maintain the carriage in alignment with the tube 25. After the mouth of the plait has been distended, as indicated in Fig. 1, operation of the crank 68 moves the carriage into the position shown in Fig. 2, and advances the tube 25 into the distended plait into approximately the position shown in Fig. 2. In this position the bat inserting member or paddle 12 may be advanced through the rack to advance the connected end of the bat into the tube and surrounding plait. As the advanced end of the bat is inserted with the paddle, the conveyor belt 24 is operated to advance a new length of bat for reception by the paddle upon its movement of retraction. After the bat has been properly inserted, the forward or advanced end is gripped within the plait by a clamp 70, which is operated by an eccentric '72 through a hand Wheel 74. This bat gripping device grips the bat against the extended bottom portion of the tube 25, as indicated in Fig. 1. With the advanced end of the bat thus held, the paddle may then be retracted without causing a corresponding movement of the bat therewith. This retracting movement of the paddle into the position shown in Fig. 1 serves to engage a new length of bat therewith.

After withdrawal of the paddle, one or more holding needles are elevated into the bat length through the foot treadle 82, connectedv to the needles through a link 84. Movement of the needles serves to preventwithdrawal of the bat length from the paddles upon withdrawal of the upholstery plaits. Thereafter the holding and distending clamps are released throughthe member 62, causing the upper shoe 32 to drop down upon the bat within the tube 25. This shoe is sufficiently narrow to project through the longitudinal slot 100 formed in the upper surface of the tube and within which the paddle operates. Having thus yclamped the bat at its forward end, retraction of the carriage, together with the plaits, serves to sever the bat at the point of entrance to the tube, and maintain the inserted bat Within the plaits.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the mechanism for inserting and holding the bat may be duplicated to any extent desired, and that having successfully stuffed one plait, ther operation may be repeated on successive plaits either in the same or a different piece of upholstery. f

Although no mechanism is shown for operating the conveyor belt or the paddle racks, it will be evident that these may be operated by hand, and that the conveyor belt may be connected to the-paddle mechanism in such a manner that it will operate in timed relation to the advancing movement of the paddle to present a new length of bat thereto, provided only that upon the rearward movement of the paddle to engage a new f length of bat there shall be no corresponding rearwardv movement of the conveyor belt.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for iilling plaited upholstery which comprises a stationary tube, a reciprocatory insertion paddle for intermittently advancing a length of bat into the tube, plait'holding and distending members, and means for advancing and retracting the members toward and from the tube to draw the plait thereover.

2. Apparatus for filling plaited upholstery comprising a stationary tube, a paddle reciprocating in alignment with the tube for advancing a length of bat thereinto, a carriage, upholstery holding and clamping mechanism on the carriage, and means for advancing and retracting the carriage to carry an upholstery plait held thereby on and oir of the loaded tube.

3. Apparatus for lling upholstery plaits comprising a stationary loading tube, a reciprocatory paddle for inserting the end of a bat length within the tube, means for drawing an empty 'plait over the loaded tube, means for clamping the contained bat at the advanced end during withdrawal of the paddle, and means for thereafter clamping the bat adjacent the mouth of the plait and bodily retracting the plait from 01T the tube te sever and remove the contained bat therewith. l

4. Apparatus for filling plaited upholster comprising a stationary and slotted lling tube, means for drawing an empty plait over the iilling tube, an insertion member, means for operating the member to .insert a stuiiing bat within the tube, means for clamping the advanced end of the bat within the plait during the withdrawal of the insertion member, means for clamping the bat approximately at the mouth of the plait, and means for withdrawing the plait and contained bat clamped at opposite ends from the tube.

5. Apparatus for filling plaited upholstery comprising a stationary and slotted tube, means for drawing an empty plait thereover, means for inserting the end of a bat length within the tube and surrounding plait, means for clamping the contained bat at the advanced end to permit withdrawal or" the insertion means, and means for clamping the bat to the plait adjacent the mouth thereof during withdrawal of the tube.

6. Apparatus for filling plaited upholstery comprising a stationary and slotted filling tube, means for drawing a plait thereover, means for inserting a bat length within the tube, and means for clamping the bat length at the advanced end and adjacent the mouth of the plait to permit Withdrawal of the insertion means and tube.

HARRY` J. COYNE. n FRANCIS J. COYNE. 

